Quinoa Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Granola Cookies

Say that cookie name five times fast, why don't ya. These cookies are an answer to my prayers. I need chocolate chip cookies in my life. I also need less guilt where cookies are concerned, and here is the perfect solution. You won't find anything taboo in these babies. No white flour. No sugar. No butter. No good? Quite the contrary, my friends, quite the contrary. First, the texture of this cookie is unreal. Soft and fluffy thanks to cooked quinoa (yes, really), with bursts of crunch from toasted almonds, and crispy little poppy seed-like texture of chia seeds, chewiness from dried cherries, and the joy of chocolate chips bursting through it all. I'm hauling these babies to Bible study tomorrow, and you can bet this is one time I hope I will have leftovers to bring home--because I'm not scared to eat them. They'll be great in the freezer to satisfy dessert emergencies. And trust me, there is always a dessert emergency around here with the high estrogen population of my home.

-1 1/2 cups cooked and cooled quinoa (just to be clear, you measure this amount AFTER you cook the quinoa)

-2 tablespoons ground flaxseed

-2 tablespoons chia seeds

-1/2 cup toasted slivered almonds

-1/2 cup dried cherries or cranberries

-1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (I'm adding a bit more next time, and I'll make 'em bittersweet)

In a large bowl, beat together the oil and honey with an electric mixer (or use your stand mixer). Add the eggs and vanilla and mix until combined. Stir in the flour, salt and baking soda until just combined. Add the oats, quinoa, flax, chia seeds, almonds, cherries or cranberries and chocolate chips and mix by hand gently until the ingredients are pretty evenly mixed. The dough will be stiff and slightly crumbly. It's going to be just fine, I promise. Scoop the dough into 2 tablespoon-sized portions. Gently flatten them slightly with your hand. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the bottoms are browned but the insides are still nice and soft. I got 38 cookies out of this one batch. Yesssss!